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Fall 2019: Science Under Siege
Fall 2019: Science Under Siege
4 / Fall 2019
Solutions
Science
under
siege
The Trump administration
is chipping away at the
science that environmental
protection depends on.
Here’s why its efforts
will fail.
Page 8
6 S
Families 8
15 S wins
EDF 12
16 Wildlife
S 18
14 Caring
S
battle oil and business action and its heroic for your pet,
gas pollution on climate protectors sustainably
Lifeline for tropical forests
Indigenous communities, such as the Kayapo (pictured), are the first line
of defense against tropical deforestation. With the Amazon under threat
by Brazil’s leader Jair Bolsonaro, the California Air Resources Board
approved a new tropical forest standard, a set of stringent criteria for reducing
deforestation that tropical states would have to meet to get access to funds
from burgeoning carbon markets such as California’s. The criteria, developed
with assistance from EDF, will help indigenous peoples in their struggle to
defend their cultures — and the climate.
CREDIT
CHRISTINA MITTERMEIER
LOOKING FORWARD
Science
and all including a carbon tax or fee. administration, sound under
siege
science has no place The Trump administration
in policy decisions,
is chipping away at the
science that environmental
especially on the
aged by their customers, employees and investors — are stepping up. environment. Instead
In August, United Airlines announced a partnership with EDF to 6 Families
S
battle oil and
gas pollution
of following science,
15 S wins
8 EDF
business action
on climate
12 Wildlife
16 S
and its heroic
protectors
14 Caring
18 S
for your pet,
sustainably
measure and accelerate greenhouse gas reductions. Utilities Xcel the administration is
Energy and National Grid have pledged to reduce carbon emissions attempting to deny and manipulate it,
100% and 80% respectively, and 13 oil and gas companies have set a starting with climate change. But EDF
target to reduce their methane emissions to near-zero levels by 2025. is pushing back. Solutions senior writer
Charlie Miller reports on our efforts to
restore science to its central role in
With its Project Gigaton, Walmart intends to remove a billion tons of decision-making.
greenhouse gas emissions from its global supply chain by 2030. And
leaders in the auto industry are pushing back against Trump admin- COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: THE VOORHES
All of this gives me hope. Now we must move, with all the tools at our edf.org
disposal, to put a price on carbon and commit to a 100% clean ener- ©2019 Environmental Defense Fund.
gy economy and net-zero emissions by 2050. If we want our children Published quarterly in New York, NY
and grandchildren to have a livable world, we must start making ASSN 0163-2566
changes now. New York / Austin / Bentonville, AR /
Boston / Boulder / Raleigh / Sacramento /
San Francisco / Washington, DC /
Beijing / La Paz, Mexico / London
EDF President
A NEW WAY TO
BOOST TEST SCORES
Diesel engine retrofits that
reduce harmful air pollution
from school buses can improve
student performance, and do
so more cost-effectively than
reducing class size.
SOURCE: ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION REVIEW
SHUTTERSTOCK
Cuba delivers a win for fins ‘‘Unlawful,
arbitrary and
senseless
’’
Cuba passed its first national keep tabs on dozens of im-
fishing law, a sweeping re- portant fish species and set
form that will help protect the limits on catch, including EDF files a forceful
island’s spectacular marine sharks and rays. Cuban wa- response to EPA’s pro
ecosystems and small fishing ters are extraordinarily biodi- posed rollback of the
communities. EDF has been verse, home to 60 different Mercury and Air Toxics
working with Cuban partners species of sharks and rays. Standards. The limits
for nearly two decades to shift The law also recognizes on toxic pollutants from
Curbing
toward this science-based, small-scale private fisher- power plants prevent emissions from
sustainable fishing plan.
Nearly 25% of Cuba’s
men, giving them social secu-
rity benefits while limiting
up to 11,000 premature a big box store
deaths each year.
coastal waters are protected illegal fishing. When Dan Katzenberger be-
— the island is home to some “This is a new vision for Add your voice came an EDF Climate Corps
of the healthiest coral reefs in fishing in Cuba,” says Valerie to the effort to fellow in 2018, he took on a
the Caribbean. But more than Miller of EDF’s Cuba Oceans stop this dangerous at- formidable task: to calculate
70% of its fish populations are program. “We’ll keep working tack in its tracks: all the carbon emissions of
in decline. Under the new with fishing communities bit.ly/noHg80 the goods Best Buy purchases
law, Cuba will expand the use and scientists to make sure and sells. This summer, build-
of a low-cost scientific pro- this law keeps Cuba’s oceans ing off Katzenberger’s work,
gram designed by EDF to healthy.” the multinational retailer
committed to slashing emis-
sions caused by the use of
their products 20% by 2030.
DREAMSTIME
miles of deep-sea corals off
the North Carolina coast, pro-
tections EDF helped secure.
“The judge made the right
decision, legally and environ-
mentally,” says EDF’s Elgie
Holstein, “but the threats to
our marine and coastal envi-
ronments continue.”
The Interior Department
relaxed safety regulations for
offshore drilling that were
meant to prevent a repeat of
the 2010 BP Deepwater Dr. Doug Rader,
Court halts drilling expansion Horizon explosion. chief oceans
Roughly 60% of Americans — In a major victory in April, “The oil industry is going
and all East and West Coast a federal judge in Alaska up- into increasingly hostile envi- scientist
states except Alaska — oppose held an Obama-era ban on ronments like the Arctic and
What are you working on?
the expansion of offshore the expansion of offshore deep waters of the Gulf of
drilling in U.S. waters. Still, drilling in the Arctic and Mexico,” says Holstein. As waters warm and species
move into new areas, we’re
the Trump administration has Atlantic oceans. The ruling “Accidents happen. That’s
working to build climate resil-
proposed opening 90% of off- could safeguard protections why more than ever we need
ience, so healthy fisheries can
shore areas for drilling. for more than 23,000 square strong rules and oversight.”
serve people and nature.
As Trump tries to roll back air pollution safeguards, 36,000 new and recently modified oil
and gas wells across the country. These
EDF and states move to protect families. standards, supported by EDF research
and the urging of 178,913 EDF members
“
i’m mad,” said a tearful alexis vision and was unable to walk. Her and activists, will prevent an estimated
Elliott, age 15. “I’m angry and disap- mother, a nurse, was dumbfounded by 300,000 tons of climate-polluting meth-
pointed that no one protected me.” her symptoms — until a toxicology report ane, 150,000 tons of smog-forming
Alexis has uncontrollable bloody nos- revealed that Alexis had been exposed to chemicals and 1,900 tons of benzene and
es that arrive unannounced. She gets benzene, a cancer-causing chemical that other hazardous pollutants from getting
rashes and bruises that no makeup can is released into the environment by oil into our air in 2020 alone. They ensure
cover. Last year she temporarily lost her and gas activity. It’s impossible to prove stronger protections for communities
where Alexis’ exposure happened, but and lay the groundwork for future safe-
her family’s former home in McDonald, guards on 850,000 older drilling sites.
PHOTOGRAPHY144.COM
‘‘
kids,” says Tomcik. tour” of her town, pointing
Then she learned out leaky gas tanks, noisy
about a plan to drill un- I need these compressors and a prima-
der her kids’ school. protections. My ry school just 400 feet from
Parents were able to a gas well.
kids need these
’’
quash that effort, but “The stink coming out
there are now six well of that well! Teachers com-
pads in her school dis-
protections. plain they can smell it in
trict, some within half a — Patrice Tomcik their classrooms,” says
mile of the school. McNall.
Childhood cancer left her youngest, McNall wants her great-grandson to
now 13, immunocompromised. breathe clean air. In San Juan County, EDF began when a small
“Every day I send my kids to school 80% of kids under age five live within a group banded together to
and I’m wondering what they’re being mile of a well site. Young children, with
exposed to,” says Tomcik, now a Moms their tiny bodies and rapid breathing, are protect ospreys from the pes-
Clean Air Force project manager. “I need particularly vulnerable to air pollution. ticide DDT. Thanks to their
these protections. My kids need these “If we don’t have our health, all the vision, magnificent birds of
protections. Thirty-two hundred kids jobs and money aren’t worth a damn,”
at this school need these protections.” says McNall.
prey are once again thriving.
Pennsylvania is the second-largest Some major players in the oil and gas
producer of natural gas in the country, industry are also opposed to the planned Join another small dedicated
and the number of active wells has in- EPA rollback. Shell, BP, Exxon Mobil and group, the Osprey Legacy So-
creased 20% since 2017. Last year, the Equinor have all voiced support for feder-
state, aided by EDF, established its first- al methane regulations. These companies
ciety, by including EDF in your
ever limits on climate and air pollution and others have set their own methane estate plans and know that
from new oil and gas facilities. EDF is reduction targets, and some are testing your gift will support EDF’s
now working to expand Pennsylvania’s new methane monitoring technologies, important work into the future.
safeguards to thousands more existing which EDF helped develop.
facilities, as well as with New York and Ultimately, there’s no substitute for You will also receive:
Virginia as they consider methane rules. strong federal pollution standards.
In Colorado, which pioneered the “State progress is critical, especially • A lifetime subscription to Solutions,
when it comes to con- EDF’s quarterly newsletter
trolling a fast-acting cli-
DURANGO/JERRY MCBRIDE
E
df chief scientist dr. steven labeled a hoax invented in China. Not
GREGKESSLER.COM
Hamburg wasn’t expecting much only did he commit to withdrawing from
when EPA Administrator Andrew the Paris climate agreement but he re-
Wheeler stopped by the agency’s fused to sign an international statement
Science Advisory Board meeting last on protecting the Arctic until all referenc-
June. Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist, es to climate change were scrubbed.
and Scott Pruitt, his predecessor, had un-
til then ignored the board. Wheeler began Fighting back
the meeting by apologizing for not con- One way EDF is fighting back has been
sulting the board sooner. But what he to deploy good science in court.
said next floored Hamburg: he claimed “When EDF goes to court, we back our
there was not enough time to consult the legal arguments with sound science, and
board on many of the EPA’s major initia- we expose the shoddy science often used
tives. The message came through loud by the administration,” says EDF Lead
and clear: Science does not matter in Attorney Tomás Carbonell.
the Trump administration. This tactic helped us block plans to
“Wheeler’s statement was jaw-drop- allow highly polluting trucks into the
ping,” says Hamburg. “How can someone marketplace. These “glider trucks” marry
pretend they’re making good policy with- a new truck body to an old, polluting en-
out consulting the underlying science gine. The result is a new truck that can
and with zero input from experts?” spew 450 times as much harmful pollu-
Since he joined the advisory board in tion as other freight trucks. Then-EPA
2016, Hamburg has watched new ap- Administrator Scott Pruitt used a study
pointees shift the panel away from good paid for by the manufacturer of glider Dr. Steven Hamburg, EDF’s chief scientist,
science. Before Trump, the membership trucks to justify his decision allowing is on the front lines of the science wars.
was diverse, with each member bringing more such trucks on the road. The EPA’s
a critical expertise. Now, the key criterion own scientists disputed the study’s false and clean car standards. This summer,
for appointment seems to be support for conclusion that the trucks are no more the EPA completed a full-scale rollback of
the administration’s agenda. The number polluting than conventional trucks. the Clean Power Plan, designed by the
of industry representatives has tripled. EDF joined a chorus of opposition to Obama administration to curb carbon
Donald van der Vaart is an anti-regulato- glider trucks, and we stopped the admin- emissions from power plants. In August,
ry chemical engineer who castigates the istration in court. 22 states and seven cities filed suit to
“extreme environmentalist left” for its EDF is holding the administration block the rollback. On the following day,
“job-killing climate change agenda.” accountable by exposing its links to EDF joined a coalition of 10 environmen-
Richard Phalen is a researcher who be- fringe organizations. William Happer ad- tal and public health organizations and
lieves the air is “too clean for optimum vised Trump on climate policy, although also sued. We laid the groundwork for
health.” he isn’t a climate scientist. A recent Free this legal challenge by filing detailed legal
“Trump abhors expertise of any kind,” dom of Information Act request by EDF and technical comments showing the
says Hamburg. “It gums up his agenda.” revealed that Happer, who resigned in rollback is unlawful and unjustified. EDF
Whenever reality collides with the September, received guidance from the also provided testimony opposing the
president’s wishes, facts fall by the way- Heartland Institute, a climate-denying rollback at public hearings, mobilized
side, from the crowd size at his inaugura- “think tank” that once put up a billboard EDF members and provided accurate
tion to his claim that voter fraud cost him comparing people
the popular vote. On the environment, who accept climate
however, Trump and his enablers have science to Ted
taken matters to a new level. Kaczynski, the TRUMP LOSES IN COURT
Government scientists have been Unabomber.
muzzled, bad data has been used to prop
up misguided policies, and research that
runs counter to the administration’s ide-
Trump is taking
direct aim at two
powerful tools for
80 % Percentage of cases Trump’s EPA has lost
before the D.C. Circuit Court
information to Congress and the media. prices for consumers and billions of tons Hurricane Dorian in September, the Sec
EPA Administrator Wheeler absurdly of carbon pollution. The new rules also retary of Commerce threatened to fire
claims his plan will reduce carbon pollu- challenge the “California waiver,” a long- top officials at the agency.
tion from the power sector by 34%. In standing provision of the Clean Air Act The administration’s policies also
fact, according to a recent EDF analysis that allows California to set its own, play out in less high-profile but equally
of the EPA’s own data, the plan will actu- tougher standards. consequential ways, such as the large
ally be worse than doing nothing in many Even some automakers think Trump proposed budget cuts at the prestigious
states. The proposed replacement plan has gone too far. Remarkably, four auto- National Science Foundation and else-
would result in significant increases in makers, including Ford and Honda, re- where that would devastate federal
both climate pollution and unhealthy jected his plan and forged a pact with science and research. Congress later
soot and smog. California. The agreement calls for much blocked Trump’s budget proposals, but
America’s popular clean car stan- stronger standards than Trump wants, the proposed cuts reveal the administra-
dards, which are saving drivers money and he was reportedly “enraged.” tion’s skewed priorities.
at the pump while cutting pollution, are On September 6, EDF appeared in Even the most popular laws are not
also under attack (see p. 12). In 2018, the court to block the weakened car rules. immune. In August, the administration
administration committed to weakening Expect a protracted legal fight. unveiled rules that will substantially
these standards, selling its plan, in part, Under this administration, even weaken the Endangered Species Act (see
through bogus science. weather science is politicized. After fed- box). The new rules fail to account for cli-
This September, the administration eral scientists at the agency responsible mate change over the coming decades
unveiled a sweeping rollback of clean for weather forecasts contradicted and, for the first time, allow economic
car rules that will mean higher gasoline Trump’s erroneous predictions about considerations to enter decisions about
The agency develops conservation The agency severely restricts which types
strategies on current and former of habitat can be designated for restora-
habitat, including areas that can tion.
be restored in the future.
All federal agencies must consult with The new rules will vastly reduce the
the agency to ensure that their actions number of projects that require agency
do not jeopardize a species or its consultation.
habitat.
FLICKR/BILL ALDEN
“Many of the rule changes are overtly
political and do nothing to enhance sci-
ence-based decision making,” says Holly
Pearen, EDF Ecosystems attorney.
Censoring science
Censorship is another way Trump wages
war on science. Soon after his inaugura-
tion, the EPA removed or changed almost
2,000 references to climate change on the
agency’s website. An EDF FOIA request
revealed that Administrator Pruitt was
personally involved in the purge.
GETTY
clean car
rollback
falters
In a surprise shift, automakers
joined forces with California to
keep America moving forward
with clean cars — defying the
administration’s efforts to gut
clean car standards.
M
ajor automakers and
California agreed on a voluntary
framework to produce cleaner Major automakers agree: Clean cars need to keep moving.
cars nationwide, upending the Trump
administration’s efforts to roll back fed- with strong support from states, auto- “We want to enforce the law and secure
eral clean car standards. Ford, Volks makers, labor and environmental groups, these climate protections for the Amer
wagen of America, Honda and BMW including EDF, are projected to eliminate ican people.” EDF has also challenged
have developed principles that provide billions of tons of carbon dioxide and other unlawful aspects of the clean car
for continued climate pollution reduc- save consumers $1.7 trillion at the gas rollbacks in court.
‘‘
tions from their fleets nationwide, com- pump. They support nearly 300,000 jobs,
parable to raising average fuel efficiency according to the BlueGreen Alliance.
51 miles per gallon by 2026 — well be- Seven out of 10 voters want to leave
This progress
yond the administration’s proposed 37 these standards in place. really cuts the legs
mpg ceiling. Yet Trump officials want to freeze U.S.
out from under the
’’
“Ever since the Trump administration progress and attack states’ long-standing
signaled it was going to attack clean car
laws, we’ve been urging automakers to de-
right to implement their own clean car
standards. According to the Trump ad-
Trump rollbacks.
liver climate pollution reductions,” says ministration’s own estimates, the freeze — EDF General Counsel Vickie Patton
EDF General Counsel Vickie Patton. “This would add more than 7 billion tons of
progress really cuts the legs out from un- carbon pollution to the air by 2100 — The automakers’ framework is a break
der the Trump rollbacks.” equivalent to the annual emissions from with Trump. Some had approached the
Clean car standards are the best tool 1,800 coal plants — and cost 60,000 jobs. newly elected president for more flexibil-
we have to reduce climate pollution from California is not alone in standing up ity in the standards. They got more than
transportation — the biggest source of to the rollbacks. A coalition of 23 states they bargained for. The administration
greenhouse gases in the United States. has sued to stop the administration from announced a rollback so extreme it
The EPA’s current standards, developed revoking state authority to protect mil- threatened to leave automakers behind
lions from this pollution. in the global race toward clean vehicles.
The clean car framework An enraged Trump blasted the auto
GETTY
first plan of its kind in the U.S., Mississippi River Delta, a coalition of
it invested $41 million in com- local and national nonprofits advocating
munity resilience projects. large-scale land preservation projects,
Design and construction is al- such as marsh restoration and sediment
ready underway, with efforts diversion, under Louisiana’s $50 billion,
including floodproofing and 50-year plan to contain future losses.
elevating homes, paying for “Good planning hinges on a clear
voluntary relocations and pro- understanding of the science,” Cochran
viding infrastructure for com- says. “We make sure people have the full
munities who stand to receive picture so they can make informed
displaced people. The plan, decisions.”
dubbed LA SAFE, incorporat- Chan-Taing puts it more succinctly.
ed almost every suggestion the “EDF told us the truth,” she says.
Louisiana resident and activist Leah Chan-Taing communities made. Tasha Kosviner
Peru and Chile for a meeting from more than 900 fish stocks. With the
at our Washington, D.C., of- right policies, we can increase the num-
fice. Working with us, the ber of fish in the sea by nearly a third by
countries are now sharing in- 2100, improving food security and boost-
formation on fish stocks and ing fishing revenue.
working toward the develop- For Chilean fishermen like Jose Chau
ment of an early warning sys- ra, who recently obtained quota to fish
tem and stock-sharing for squid, there’s hope. “We face a lot of
arrangements to help cope uncertainty,” he says, “but having the
with the changes. Using high flexibility to catch different species as cir-
resolution modeling provided cumstances change will allow us to fish
by NOAA, our goal is to help sustainably and maintain our livelihoods.”
Humboldt squid, climate migrant plan for the future. Rod Griffin
AP IMAGES
lobby for a
price on
carbon
W
hen the intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change re-
leased its now famous 2018 re-
port sending the strongest warning yet of
the impending climate crisis, Amanda
Sourry’s first thought was of her children.
“As a parent it’s incredibly hard to ...
think about what that really means,” the
president of Unilever North America said.
Now Sourry has joined the CEOs of 17
other global companies, including Ford,
PG&E and Shell, to lobby for strict federal
legislation to limit climate pollution. The ”The cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action,” says Unilever’s Amanda Sourry.
CEO Climate Dialogue calls for an econo-
mywide price on carbon with the goal of Says Unilever’s Sourry: “The cost of in- companies receive plaudits for their en-
reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80% action is greater than the cost of action.” vironmental record while opposing cli-
by 2050. In effect, these Fortune 500 To date, more than 600 companies mate policies behind closed doors.
companies and global brands are asking have announced emissions reduction tar- EDF recently called out Amazon and
to pay for what they emit. gets and nearly 200 have committed to Google publicly for providing financial
Victoria Mills, EDF+Business manag- 100% renewable energy. Maintaining support to the Competitive Enterprise
ing director, called the move “a break- pressure on companies to advocate public Institute, a group that questions the sci-
through moment.” policies consistent with their sustainabili- ence behind climate change.
“Years from now, we will see this as ty commitments is key to EDF’s work. “A company shouldn’t be labeled a
the moment business engagement on “The urgency of the climate challenge sustainability leader if it publicly sup-
climate policy became an unstoppable demands a bigger response than cutting ports climate action but privately funds
movement,” says Mills who, along with their emissions,” says Mills. “Companies those who lobby against it,” says Mills.
three other nonprofits, helped recruit the must also support policies to drive down Tasha Kosviner
companies and draw up the group’s guid- emissions across the entire economy.”
ing principles. This is not the first time business has
The group is presenting a united front tried to influence Congress on climate.
Corporate trailblazers
when providing input on proposed car- What sets this initiative apart is that it
bon pricing bills and meeting with con- doesn’t prescribe a specific solution. WHO ARE THEY?
gressional staffers as it seeks to shape the While the group’s guiding principles call The 18 companies are: BASF Corp.,
development of climate legislation. for a carbon pricing policy that protects BP, Calpine Corp., Citi, Dominion
For many, the CEO engagement is a people and the natural world and pre- Energy, Dow, DSM North America,
ray of hope. vents disadvantaged communities from DTE Energy, DuPont, Equinor, Ex-
“This is a sign the good guys in corpo- bearing the cost (for example, through elon, Ford, LafargeHolcim, PG&E
rate America will show up on Capitol Hill increased energy bills), they stop short Corp., PSEG, Shell, Total, Unilever.
Nonprofit partners are: EDF, World
and fight for climate action,” says Sen. of defining exactly what form the legis- Resources Institute, The Nature
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). lation should take. Conservancy, Center for Climate
Increasingly, companies recognize The flexibility is intentional as the and Energy Solutions.
climate change as a risk to their bottom group attempts to gather support from
line and reputation. Energy security and members of both parties. WHAT DO THEY WANT?
access to natural resources are at stake. “The reality of politics is that durable Legislation aimed at reducing green-
Pressure from consumers and share change comes from broad coalitions,” house emissions 80% by 2050.
holders is mounting. According to an EDF says EDF president Fred Krupp.
report, Business and the Fourth Wave 2019, A recent EDF report, The Blind Spot WILL THEY GET IT?
more than nine in 10 business leaders say in Corporate Sustainability Rankings, re- In the long term, yes! How fast de-
consumers are likely to hold them ac- vealed that many ranking systems fail to pends on the outcome of the 2020
elections.
countable for their environmental impact. consider lobbying activities. Too many
Some animals are of outsize importance to their ecosystems. And some ranchers
and farmers take special care of these special creatures, because they’re committed
to protecting biodiversity on their working lands. EDF spotlights three extraordinary bird
species — and salutes the men and women who help them.
A
my greer will always understand how important ecological di- forbs to return, as well as insects that vireo
remember the thrill of finding a versity is for the plants, animals, insects chicks require. “The birds found the habi-
black-capped vireo nest on her and birds that live here, aside from us tat and used it,” says Greer. The native
ranch in the geographic center of Texas. and our cattle,” says Greer, a wildlife biol- grasses retain water in times of drought,
“It’s such an incredible little bird,” she ogist. “We’re sixth-generation ranchers which aids their cattle. “Everything bene-
says. “So secretive.” but we know it’s not really our ranch. It’s fits when all is in balance,” says Greer.
‘‘
Black-capped vireos are a precise in- part of the planet.”
dicator of ecosystem health. When the In 2008, the Greers decided to partici- Everything benefits
’’
bird was listed as an endangered species pate in Safe Harbor to reestablish vireo
in 1987, it was on the brink of extinction. habitat on their property in Brady, Texas. when all is in balance.
Only 350 were known to exist in the wild. Created by EDF, Safe Harbor allows work- — Amy Greer, rancher
Thanks to the efforts of landowners ing landowners to protect species with-
like Greer (above), the tiny songbird has out additional government intervention. They’re now enlisting other landown-
made a remarkable recovery and is no To date the approach has saved more ers to restore habitat.
longer on the endangered species list. than 4 million acres of prime habitat. “We couldn’t have done it without
“My husband George and I Each spring, the Greers move their cat- EDF,” says Greer. “You have to under-
tle from 400 acres stand how the system works. Otherwise
of shin oak. Then you just set yourself up for failure, espe-
THE WILSON LEGACY they cut out inva- cially given the pace at which the climate
This feature honors the memory of Robert W. Wilson, a sive prickly pear, is changing. We need to be open to
longtime EDF supporter and champion of harnessing market
forces to drive environmental progress. See edf.org/wilson which allows na- changes. We need to pay attention.
tive grasses and We need to wake up.”
I
n the southeast, the longleaf squirrels, eastern bluebirds and great didn’t want any government agency on
pine savanna that once covered 90 mil- crested flycatchers. my property. But it’s been a real pleasure.”
lion acres and harbored up to 40 plant Warren Bicknell, a third-generation Saving old trees for the woodpecker allows
species per square yard is 98% gone. tree farmer in Thomasville, Georgia, has him to conduct prescribed burns to con-
In this compromised ecosystem, the intact stands of old-growth longleaf pine. trol undergrowth, helping the imperiled
red-cockaded woodpecker stands out as “They’re majestic trees,” he says. ecosystem — and his timber operation.
a survivor. The endangered woodpecker “Woodpeckers have nested here for 400 “EDF had the right idea,” he says. “It’s a
nests only in the oldest longleaf pines. It’s years. I think of the stories these trees win-win.” Bicknell has since influenced
considered a keystone species because could tell. They’re our redwoods.” neighboring landowners to do the same.
after it abandons its intricate cavity nest, Bicknell (above) signed a Safe Harbor “The red-cockaded woodpecker has
27 species take over the nests for roosting agreement to help the woodpecker. “I was had enough hardships,” he says. “I want
or nesting, including wood ducks, flying very hesitant to join at first,” he says. “I to help it if I can.”
“
we used to hunt sage grouse,” habitat are intertwined. In 1985, the boom creeks and wetlands are back and graz-
says Agee Smith. Smith and his fam- and bust economics of ranching nearly ing lands are more resilient. And Smith
ily work a 37,500-acre cattle ranch forced the Smiths to quit ranching. has gotten used to seeing greater sage
on the eastern edge of the Jarbidge Wil Instead, they diversified their business grouse following his livestock and
derness in eastern Nevada. The high-ele- and received payments for restoring browsing on insects.
vation meadows are ideal greater sage creeks and wetlands. They’re also help- “I’ve ridden every corner of the ranch
grouse habitat. ing the grouse through a form of habitat and thought I knew everything,” he says.
The greater sage grouse is considered exchange, a tool pioneered by EDF. These “But I didn’t know anything about how
an umbrella species because protecting exchanges compensate landowners for re- things are connected. The grouse is a
it helps 350 species on the range. storing habitat to offset disturbances else- very important part of the sagebrush
But today, the grouse is under enor- where. The result is a net gain of habitat. ecosystem. Healthy habitat benefits ev-
mous threat as the Trump administration “It’s a good idea,” says Smith (below). ery part of our operation.
loosens protections on much of its range “If you want broad-scale improvement “My daughter is already taking con-
to facilitate a drilling boom. on the land, you need to give people in- servation to the next level,” says Smith.
To some extent, the fortunes of the centives to change.” “So are my grandchildren. I’ll never go
grouse and the humans who share its Now the beavers have returned, back to the old way of doing things.”
SHUTTERSTOCK AND DAN HOTTLE/USFWS
Jim Motavalli is a freelance environmental journalist and author. Opinions are his own.
18 Solutions / edf.org / Fall 2019
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A view from
the front Talking climate change with kids
lines Whether from school strikes or science classes or living through extreme
weather, kids are increasingly aware of the climate crisis. EDF staffers share
For years, Kacey Conway how they manage anxiety and instill hope in their kids.
worked on the frontlines for
the environment in Grand “My daughter’s generation was thriving. I made a point of for climate. Of course I’m sad
Junction, Colorado, inspecting is very direct about climate showing them how the town she has these worries on her
oil and gas wells for the Bureau change — you’re either with had rebuilt.” shoulders at such a young age.
of Land Management and
us or you’re against us. I try to — Stacy MacDiarmid, But kids are more resilient than
battling invasive plants. Seeing
teach her that policy progress manager, energy we think. And they take their
the recent attacks coming from
only comes from building communications, mom to cues from us. I work for an or-
Washington, D.C., Kacey threw
consensus. From considering Miller, 8, and Wells, 5 ganization that is laser-focused
her support behind EDF.
everyone’s views, needs and on finding solutions. That’s the
“EDF went to court on day one concerns.” “My daughter loves hunting for message I convey to my kids:
to keep this administration in — Hanling Yang, director, worms. It’s important to foster There are a lot of good people
check,” she says. “We can’t global energy, mom their love of the outdoors — in this fight. Action and opti-
always do much as individuals. to Zizhan Luo, 23 not just because the human mism — not despair — is how
It’s in groups like EDF that we
impulse is to protect what we we’re dealing with this.”
have the power.”
“I teach my kids that humans love, but also because being in — Tasha Kosviner, Solutions
Having seen methane pollution are resilient. We visited Port nature makes you feel good.” managing editor, mom to
firsthand as a well inspector, Aransas, Texas, which was — Dan Upham, manager, Zola, 12, and Lenny, 9
Kacey especially appreciates heavily hit by Hurricane Harvey. executive communications,
our work aimed at stopping Some of the buildings show dad to Beatrix, 2, and Violet, 6 ››› TALK TO US ››› How do
leaks of this potent greenhouse the waterline at the height of you discuss climate change
gas from oil and gas operations. the floods, which made it very “My daughter has been par- with your kids or grandkids?
“EDF is helping ensure compa- real. But we also saw the town ticipating in the school strikes Let us know at editor@edf.org.
nies take responsibility for this
waste,” she says.
‘‘
Unite behind the
science. That is
our demand.
— Greta
’’
Thunberg
Climate defender, age 16
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